Data processing systems and apparatus therefor

ABSTRACT

Data processing apparatus and cooperating tickets adapted for use in a transportation system. The ticket has fare data encoded on one side, as well as direction-of-travel indicia. Reading heads will read the indicia on the ticket irrespective of ticket orientation. Gate circuits responsive to a direction-of-travel indicia-reading head and data-reading heads place the data read into a storage register with the digits in proper significant order, whether the highest or lowest significant digit is read first. The read data is then compared with preset data, and a barrier release signal is provided if the read data is satisfactory.

135M011 oom [72] lnventors Robert Dell Sudbury, England John BenjaminCrews, Los Angeles, both of, Calif. [21] Appl. No. 688,422 [22] FiledDec. 6, 1967 [45] Patented Aug. 10, 1971 [73] Assignee Advance DataSystems Corporations Beverly Hills, Calif. Continuation-impart ofapplication Ser. No. 460,771, June 2, 1965, now abandoned.

[54] DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR 7 Claims, 3 DrawingFigs.

[52] U.S.Cl ..235/61.6 R, 235/61.11D,235/6l.11 E [51 Int. Cl G06k 7/08[50] Field ofSeareh 340/149, 146.3;235/6L1l1,61.l15,61.114, 61112, 61.9,61.11, 61.6; 283/18 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,640,647 6/1953 Rand,.1r. 235/6112 M Primary Examiner-Thomas A.Robinson Assistant Examiner-William W. Cochran Atromeys- Alan C. Rose,Alfred B. Levine and Jerome B.

Rockwood ABSTRACT: Data processing apparatus and cooperating ticketsadapted for use in a transportation system. The ticket has fare dataencoded on one side, as well as direction-0ftravel indicia. Readingheads will read the indicia on the ticket irrespective of ticketorientation. Gate circuits responsive to a direction-of-travelindicia-reading head and data-reading heads place the data read into astorage register with the digits in proper significant order, whetherthe highest or lowest significant digit is read first. The read data isthen compared with preset data, and a barrier release signal is providedif the read data is satisfactory.

Z, a i 1 HHHHIIIIIHI1111111111IHH 3/ 111111111HIIIIIHHIHHH1w PATENTEDAUG I 0 I97! sum 1 or 2 LMTSQ DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS AND APPARATUSTHEREFOR This invention relates to an electronic binary-coded datareading and processing system and apparatus therefor, and particularlyto a system and apparatus for reading and interpreting binary-coded datarecorded on a railway ticket or like record medium, and producingcontrol signals in accordance with the significance of the data readfrom the ticket, to effect operation of a ticket barrier exit orentrance gate.

An object of the present invention is to provide electronic reading andprocessing apparatus capable of reading and interpreting data recordedon a ticket irrespective of the orientation of the ticket with respectto the reading apparatus.

A more general object of the invention is to provide apparatus capableof reading data from a ticket presented thereto, comparing the read datawith preset data and utilizing signals representative of the result ofthe comparison to control the operation of a ticket barrier.

Thus, according to the invention, there is provided an electronicbinary-coded data reading and processing system including reading meansadapted to sense data recorded on a ticket presented thereto and toproduce output signals indicative thereof, means for producing outputsignals indicative of preset reference data, coincidence means foreffecting a comparison between the read and reference signals andcontrol means responsive to the result of the comparison for effectingcontrol of the operation of a ticket barrier gate.

The invention will be described by way of example only with particularreference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a ticket provided with coded datamarkings; and

FIGS. 2a and 2b are block schematics of the electronic data reading andprocessing apparatus of the invention for the interpretation of the datarecorded on the ticket shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. I, the ticket 1 is preferably printed on one surfaceonly, with binary-coded markings. Along the longitudinal reading heads.2 of the ticket, the markings are preferably arranged in three groups a,b, c, each group containing nine marks and representing a nine-digitbinary number representative of information relating to the origin,destination, value or any other particulars required to identify theticket and determine whether the ticket is valid or a particular journeymade or about the be made. This information may be printed on the ticketin convenient convenient form, eg ordinary colored ink may be used forthe data markings, for sensing by suitable photoelectric orlight-sensitive means, or the ink may contain magnetic material fordetection by magnetic reading heads. Alternatively, luminescent orphosphorescent marking materials may be used, or the binary data may berepresented by holes punched in the ticket.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2,

magnetic pickup heads are used to sense the data magnetically recordedalong the longitudinal edge 2 of the ticket, and photocells are used tosense printed marks indicative of data information d represented as afour-digit'binarynumeral at one end 3 of the ticket 1 as shown inFIG. 1. Alternatively, the data information may be recorded and sensedmagnetically. Along the edge 4 of the ticket, opposite the data marks a,b, c, a further set of magnetically recorded marks e is provided, thenumber of marks corresponding in number to those provided along edge 2and each mark e along edge 4 being located opposite a corresponding markprovided along edge 2. The additional marks e are used as timing orreference marks, whichwhen sensed by the magnetic reading heads, producetiming signals for the timed sequential control of components shown inFIG. 2. In an alternative embodiment, the timing marks e may be offsetwith respect to the data marks a, b, c, to provide an indication of theorientation of the ticket.

Thus, the provision of timing marks e, results in the generator oftiming signals which may be interpreted as clock pulses for the system,insuring proper operation despite variations of speed of the ticketreader.

In addition, two marks f are provided at the end of the ticket adjacentmarks d. Marks f are provided to determine the direction of travel ofthe ticket, further disclosed hereinbelow.

The apparatus schematically depicted in FIG. 2 is arranged to read thedata markings recorded on the ticket and interpret the data to ascertainwhether the ticket is valid for a journey made or about to be made by apassenger, and to operate an entrance or exit gate at a ticket barriercontrol point. The actual gate forms no part of the present inventionand the invention is designed for use with any type of gate which may becontrolled and released electronically.

The ticket is intended to be inserted in a slot by a passenger and movedpast the photocells and magnetic reading heads. It is a feature of thepresent invention, that the orientation of the ticket with respect tothe reading heads is immaterial. Either end of the ticket may bepresented first to the heads, with the printed side uppermost orreversed.

Four magnetic pickup heads 5, 6, 7, 8 shown in FIG. 2 are provided andthe heads are arranged in pairs, such as heads 5 and 7, and heads 6 and8. Each pair has the heads spaced apart by a distance equal to the widthof the ticket, so that while one head, such as head 5, reads the datarecorded along edge 2 of the ticket, the other head of the pair, head 7,reads the timing marks along edge 4, and the pair of heads 5 and 7 arespaced apart to allow the ticket to pass therebetween. Only one pair ofheads is actually reading data at any instant, according to whether theticket is presented printed side uppermost or reversed. Similarly, theendwise orientation of the ticket, i.e. whether the end 3 containing thedate information d is presented first or not, determines which head ofthe operable pair of reading heads reads the data along edge 2 and whichreads the timing marks along edge 4.

As previously indicated, photocells are used to detect the dateinformation d recorded on the ticket and these photocells are shown inFIG. 2 as 9, 9a, 10, 10a, 11, 11a, 12, and 12a. As with the magneticreading heads 5, 6, 7, 8, the photocells 9, 9a, 10, 10a, 11, 11a, 12 and120 are arranged to accommodate tickets presented to the cells printedside uppermost or reversed. Additional photocells 13, 13a, 14 and 14aare provided to determine the orientation of the ticket, i.e. whetherthe end containing the date information has been presented to thereading heads, ie the ticket is moving in the direction indicated byarrow Y in FIG. I, or whether the ticket is reversed and is proceedingin direction X. The photocells 13, 13a, 14 and 14a are associated withsuitable lamps and operate in conjunction with photocells 9, 9a, 10,10a, 11, Ila, l2 and 12a to detect the position of the date informationd with respect to the photocells to provide an indication whether theend of the ticket containing the date information d has been insertedfirst or last in the ticket-receiving slot. This information concerningthe orientation of the ticket in the form of the presence or absence ofa signal from photocells 13, 13a, 14 and 14a, is available before thealong edges 2 and 4 of the ticket are sensed by the magnetic readingheads, and this ticket orientation information is utilized to feed themagnetically recorded data into data storage locations in the correctorder irrespective of the orientation of the ticket. To achieve this,the orientation information is stored in one or the other of flip-flops15 or I6.

As shown in FIG. 2, the output signals produced from the photocells 9,9a, 10, 10a, 11, 11a, 12 and 12a in response to the sensing of the datemarks d, are supplied-to a date coincidence unit 17, where the dateinformation is compared with preset date information supplied in thefonn of output signals from the date-setting switch 18. The outputsignals from photocells 13, 13a, 14 and 14a are applied-to AND gate 21and to flip-flop 16, whereby orientation information is stored, as thedate coincidence read from the ticket is stored in flipflop 15.Flip-flop provides a Date O.K. signal to matrix 52.

The output signals from magnetic pickup heads 5, 6, 7, 8, produced inresponse to the detection of magnetic data marks recorded along edges 2and 4 of the ticket are supplied to preamplifier units 23, coupled inpairs, and the outputs from units 23 passed via amplifiers 24, 25 andpulse shaping and delay circuits 26, 27, to lines 28, 29, and also tothe inputs of AND gates 30, 31, adapted to receive output signalsindicative of ticket orientation information from flip-flop 16. ANDgates and 31 also receive signals over lines 34 and from two counters,further disclosed hereinbelow, to provide output signals to OR gate 22,whose output constitutes one of the two inputs to flip-flop 16.

The timing marks recorded along edge 4 of ticket 1 are used to producetiming signals which are applied to AND gates 30, 31, to switch oneither of counters 32 or 33 according to the state of flip-flop 16. TheX and Y counters each have a 31- count capacity, the 31st count beingused for reset purposes, by applying a reset pulse on lines 34, 35 to ORgate 22 to restore flip-flop 16 to its original state after a ticket hasbeen sensed.

Twenty-seven of the outputs of the X and Y counter are connected to ANDgate assemblies as shown via matrices. Counts 1 to 9, 11 to 19 and 21 to29 of X counter 33 are connected to an input of corresponding AND gates36 of gating units 37, 38, 39. Similarly, counts 1 to 9, 11 to 19 and 21to 29 of Y counter 32 are connected to an input of corresponding ANDgates 40 of gating units 41, 42, 43.

Output signals indicative of magnetic data recorded along edge 2 of theticket is present on line 28 or line 29 according to the orientation ofthe ticket and applied to an input of gates 36 or 40 respectively. Thesingle output of each gate 36 or 40 of gating units 37, 43; 38, 42; 39,41; is connnected to the inputs of storage units 44, 45, 46,respectively, as shown.

In operation, if the ticket is presented to the ticket-receiving slotwhile travelling in effect in the X direction (FIG. 1) i.e. with thedate information d and direction informationftrailing the leading edgeof the ticket, flip-flop 16 will reserve its first input signal overline 64, as the output for AND gate 21. A third input signal to gate 21,necessary to set flip-flop 16, is supplied from aticket-insertion-sensing switch 66 over a flipflop 19, the switch beingclosed upon presentation of a ticket. However, in the absence of signalsfrom photocells 13, 14, 13a, 1411, the signal from switch 66 through agate 22 will be the only input to flip-flop 16, resulting in an outputsignal on line 60. Thus, flip-flop 16 produces a signal at the input ofgate 31. When the timing marks recorded along edge 4 are sensed by-themagnetic heads, output signals indicative thereof are applied to thesecond input of AND gate 31 to switch on X counter 33, which operates toproduce output signals sequentially on output lines X to X therebysupplying input signals sequentially to AND gates 36 of units 37, 38,39. Thus, when ever data signals indicative of data recorded along edge2 of a ticket, are present on line 28, in coincidence with an outputsignal from X counter 33, the AND gate 36 corresponding to thesequential count of the X counter will be opened to allow a signal topass to the corresponding location of storage units 44, 45, 46.

Timing and data signals appearing on line 28 or line 29 open OR gate 20.The output of OR gate 20 serves to reset flip-flop 19, removing one ofthe input signals to AND gate 21. AND gate 21 is opened, cutting off anysignals detected by ticket direction photocells 13. 13a, 14 and 14a.Therefore, after reading of the timing and data marks being. the ticketdirection photocells are disabled.

In response to the detection of the timing marks recorded on the ticket,the X counter 33 will switch on the AND gates 36, to store the firstnine digits of binary data read from edge 2 of the ticket, in storageunit 44. As the ticket progresses through the apparatus, the second setof nine-digit binary data is read by the magnetic reading heads and datasignals indicative thereof are supplied to storage unit 45 in responseto the stepping of X counter 33 through counts X n to X Similarly, thethird set of nine-digit binary data recorded on the ticket is stored instorage unit 46 during counts X to X of the X counter.

Should the ticket be presented to the ticket-receiving slot in the Ydirection (FIG. 1), flip-flop 16, receiving a signal from ticket switch66 over OR gate 22, but no signal from the photocells, supplies an inputsignal to AND gate 30, which is opened on the receipt of timing signalsapplied to the second input thereof, to switch on Y counter 32. 7

With the ticket travelling in the Y direction, the data marks recordedalong edge 2 will be read backwards and hence must be placed in thereverse order in storage units 44, 45, 46. Thus, the first significantbinary bit of information sensed will be the last digit of block c (FIG.1), and this information is required to be inserted in the last storagelocation of storage unit 46. Accordingly, the outputs of the Y counter32 are connected as indicated to the inputs of gates 40 to ensure thatthe data read from the ticket is stored in the correct order in thestorage units, irrespective of the orientation of the ticket.

The date for which the single trip or return trip ticket is valid isencoded at d on ticket 1. As stated above, insertion of the ticketactuates ticket insert switch 66, thereby resetting flip-flop 15. As thedate information passes the upper or lower date-reading photocells 9-12or 9a12a, the data are read into date coincidence unit 17. The dateinformation signals are compared in the date coincidence unit 17 withsignals representing the valid date set on date-setting switch 18. Sincethe order of the code from side to side would be dependent upon theorientationof the ticket, data are supplied by the output of flip-flop16 to date coincidence unit 17. Upon coincidence of the date read fromthe ticket and the date set on date-setting switch 18, date coincidenceunit 17 provides an output signal toflip-flop l5, setting flip-flop 15.The output of flip-flop 15 is then applied to destination station numberand code matrix 52.

In a preferred arrangement, the binary coded marks a (FIG. 1) arerepresentative of data relating to the station number of origin of theticket, and this information is required to be stored temporarily instorage unit 44. The outputs of this storage unit 44, are connected vialine 47 to a diode matrix 48 arranged to decode the binary data andconverts the same to signals indicative of the station numbers. Thesecond group of data b (FIG. 1) represents information relating to thefare value of a ticket and thus, the second storage unit 45, is used totemporarily store this informatiomand might also include other codeinformation indicating whether or not the ticket is a platform ticket,for example. The outputs of storage unit 45 are connected via line 49 toa further diode matrix 50, similar to that of matrix 48, but with thediodes interconnected such as to provide output signals on thecoordinates indicative of the particular fares determined for thetickets. By suitable cross connections indicated by the fare field 51between matrices 48 and 50, the fare applicable to any station numbercan be preset. The third binary group c recorded on each ticket maycontain marks representative of information relating to the number ofthe destination station, for example, or the type of ticket, i.e.single, return, season. This information is required to be temporarilystored in storage unit 46 and provision may be made for using additionalnumbers as required, to identify special types of tickets. A furtherdiode matrix 52 receives output signals from storage unit 46 via line53,21 Date O.K." signal from flip-flop 15 and receives further signalsfrom matrix 50 to produce output signals therefrom.

For providing signals indicative to season ticket information, since theseason tickets may be for a week, month or quarter, a setting switch 45is provided to supply signals indicative of preset season ticket data tomatrix 52 and to a passenger store 57 and the switch may, of course,provide for season tickets having extended periods of validity, tag. 6months, 1 year, etc.

Output signals are produced on line 58 from matrix 52 indicating whethera ticket should be deposited in a ticket-collecting box, or returned tothe commuter, and a ticket magnet or similar device would be providedfor this purpose.

The information from storage units 44, 45, 46, decoded by the respectivematrices 48, 50, 52, is combined to form a single output signal which isapplied to the passenger store 57. The purpose of this store is toindicate the number of valid tickets which have been inserted in theticket-receiving slot, and an output signal from store 57 is applied toa gate release circuit to allow passengers to pass therethrough.

As each passenger passes through the gate, mechanism may be provided toprovide a pulse per passenger, which is fed back over line 68 to thepassenger store 57 to release one storage unit for each passengerpassing through, such that a passenger may, for example, insert aplurality of tickets into the reading mechanism, information that thetickets are valid stored in the passenger store until all tickets havebeen checked and the gate released for the correct number of passengersto pass through the barrier before the gate is again locked. Theapplication to the passenger store 57 of a gate release pulse isarranged to feed a reset pulse via line 59 to the storage units 44, 45,46, to restore these units to zero, ready for the receipt of datarelating to the next ticket fed to the sensing apparatus. Similarly, aspreviously indicated, flip-flop 16 is reset by the last pulse count ofcounters 32 or 33 through OR gate 22 to prepare for the receipt oforientation information relating to the next ticket fed to the readingheads.

It will be appreciated that the invention has been described by way ofexample only and is in no way limited to the particular arrangementillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

We claim:

1. An electronic binary-coded data reading and processing system fortickets having markings recorded thereon representing date information,travelling data and timing data, comprising a first set of sensing headsresponsive to the date information markings recorded on the ticket toproduce signals indicative thereof, a further set of sensing headsresponsive to the data and timing markings to produce distinctive outputsignals indicative of each, direction-indicating means responsive to themarkings recorded on the ticket to provide signals indicative of theorientation or direction of travel of the ticket with respect to thesensing heads, gating means responsive to said timing signals and tosaid orientation signals and arranged to pass the timing signals to oneor other of a pair of counting devices according to the orientation ofthe ticket, to initiate a count therein, further gating means responsiveto output signals from said one or other counting devices indicative ofthe count therein and to said data signals, to pass a data signal uponcoincidence between an output signal from the counting device and a datasignal, means for storing said data signals passed by said furthergating means,

matrix means for comparing the data signals stored in said storage meanswith preset travelling data and arranged to produce a distinctive outputsignal whenever identity between sensed and preset data is establishedand control means responsive to said distinctive output signal to effectoperation of a ticket barrier gate.

2. An electronic binary-coded data reading and processing system fortickets as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said pair of countingdevices comprises a binary counter having a content equivalent to thenumber of timing markings recorded on the ticket and having the outputof each stage coupled to a matrix having a number of outputs equivalentto the counter content, each matrix output being connected to one inputof a respective one of a plurality of gating devices each having afurther input connected in common to means supplying said data signalswhereby whenever an output signal from a counter coincides with a datasignal, the latter is passed by the respective gate to said storagemeans and the interconnections between one counter and the respectivegating devices being reversed compared with the interconnections betweenthe other counter and the respective gating devices such that when acount is initiated In one or other of the counters, data is stored insaid storage means in the correct order irrespective of the orientationor direction of travel of the ticket with respect to said reading heads.

3. An electronic binary-coded data reading and processing system as setforth in claim 2 wherein date information markings recorded on a ticketare sensed by photoelectric sensing means and timing and travelling datarecorded on the ticket are sensed by magnetic sensing means.

4. An electronic binary-coded data reading and processing system as setforth in claim 2 wherein all data markings recorded on the ticket aresensed by magnetic sensing means.

5. An electronic binary-coded data reading and processing system as setforth in claim 2 wherein said direction-indicating means are reset bythe last count content of either counting device.

6. An electronic binary-coded data reading and processing system as setforth in claim 2 wherein said storage means comprises a plurality ofindividual storage units each having associated therewith a respectivedecoding matrix arranged to provide a single output signal wheneveridentity is established between sensed and preset data signals suppliedto said matrices, a further storage device being responsive to outputsignals from said matrices to produce a gate release signal from saidfurther storage device whenever a predetermined number of tickets havebeen sensed.

7. An electronic binary-coded data recording and processing system asclaimed in claim 6 wherein generation of a gate release pulse isarranged to reset all storage units to zero.

1. An electronic binary-coded data reading and processing system fortickets having markings recorded thereon representing date information,travelling data and timing data, comprising a first set of sensing headsresponsive to the date information markings recorded on the ticket toproduce signals indicative thereof, a further set of sensing headsresponsive to the data and timing markings to produce distinctive outputsignals indicative of each, direction-indicating means responsive to themarkings recorded on the ticket to provide signals indicative of theorientation or direction of travel of the ticket with respect to thesensing heads, gating means responsive to said timing signals and tosaid orientation signals and arranged to pass the timing signals to oneor other of a pair of counting devices according to the orientation ofthe ticket, to initiate a count therein, further gating means responsiveto output signals from said one or other counting devices indicative ofthe count therein and to said data signals, to pass a data signal uponcoincidence between an output signal from the counting device and a datasignal, means for storing said data signals passed by said furthergating means, matrix means for comparing the data signals stored in saidstorage means with preset travelling data and arranged to produce adistinctive output signal whenever identity between sensed and presetdata is established and control means responsive to said distinctiveoutput signal to effect operation of a ticket barrier gate.
 2. Anelectronic binary-coded data reading and processing system for ticketsas claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said pair of counting devicescomprises a binary counter having a content equivalent to the number oftiming markings recorded on the ticket and having the output of eachstage coupled to a matrix having a number of outputs equivalent to thecounter content, each matrix output being connected to one input of arespective one of a plurality of gating devices each having a furtherinput connected in common to means supplying said data signals wherebywhenever an output signal from a counter coincides with a data signal,the latter is passed by the respective gate to said storage means andthe interconnections between one counter and the respective gatingdevices being reversed compared with the interconnections between theother counter and the respective gating devices such that when a countis initiated in one or other of the counters, data is stored in saidstorage means in the correct order irrespective of the orientation ordirection of travel of the ticket with respect to said reading heads. 3.An electronic binary-coded data reading and processing system as setforth in claim 2 wherein date information markings recorded on a ticketare sensed by photoelectric sensing means and timing and travelling datarecorded on the ticket are sensed by magnetic sensing means.
 4. Anelectronic binary-coded data reading and processing system as set forthin claim 2 wherein all data markings recorded on the ticket are sensedby magnetic sensing meaNs.
 5. An electronic binary-coded data readingand processing system as set forth in claim 2 wherein saiddirection-indicating means are reset by the last count content of eithercounting device.
 6. An electronic binary-coded data reading andprocessing system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said storage meanscomprises a plurality of individual storage units each having associatedtherewith a respective decoding matrix arranged to provide a singleoutput signal whenever identity is established between sensed and presetdata signals supplied to said matrices, a further storage device beingresponsive to output signals from said matrices to produce a gaterelease signal from said further storage device whenever a predeterminednumber of tickets have been sensed.
 7. An electronic binary-coded datarecording and processing system as claimed in claim 6 wherein generationof a gate release pulse is arranged to reset all storage units to zero.